Cheers!

Right up until New Year’s, this time of the year is packed full of opportunities to eat, drink and be merry. Here are some creative beverages than can add a little jolly to your holiday toasts and merriments.

Cherry Bells Champagne. Start with 4 oz. of grappa and 4 oz. of cherry liqueur. Pour both into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Pour evenly among four glasses, top with champagne and serve.

Bailey’s Peppermint Elf. Warm your guests up when you fill a mug with 4 oz. of hot chocolate, 1 oz. of Godiva Chocolate-infused vodka and 1 oz. of Baileys (with a hint of Mint Chocolate). Top with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle crushed candy cane on top.

Angel’s Delight. This makes a delicious dessert cocktail. Into a shaker with ice, pour 1 oz. cream, ¾ oz. triple sec, ¾ oz. gin and 2 to 3 dashes of grenadine. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

Cranberry Sparkler. Even children can toast the New Year with this mocktail.

Combine 1 ½ oz. blackberry puree and 2 oz. white cranberry juice in a cocktail glass. Add sparkling water to fill, then garnish with a mint leaf. For the blackberry puree, simply place blackberries in the bowl of a food processor and process until pureed. Strain through a fine mesh sieve set overa medium bowl and discard solids.

Grinch. Despite the name, there’s nothing crabby about this cocktail. Combine 2 oz. Midori, ½ oz. lemon juice and 1 tsp. simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a red maraschino cherry to represent the changed heart of the green man.